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Post by busdriver on Apr 24, 2017 15:59:50 GMT
New here so I am hoping for some much needed help. First kudos to all those who came before me I wouldn't be here without your ideas, inspiration, and motivation(DM Scotty, DMG, Wyloch, BMC, Hankerin and any others that I might have forgotten.) I am starting a set of tiles from 1/2 inch xps foam(the pink stuff). I am working off combining BMC and Wylochs techniques. I am making them based on a 1 1/4" grid, this way I can add interior wall with a thickness of 1/2" or exterior of 1/4" without compromising the 1" square space. My tiles range from 1x?(hallways), 2x2, and various larger sizes. What I am looking to do is find a quick and easy option for creating a way to hold the individual tiles pieces together when on the table so they won't separate and can be easily and reliably be put together and taken apart. I am also looking for ways to have removable walls, interior and exterior that can be held in place but not permanent, and won't move easily during play. I know this sounds like a lot but I can't seem to find a truly modular tile system that also accounts for modular walls, that is, without having to go to plastic. I figured if there were a group of people who could help figure this out, this would be the place to find them. Any and all ideas and answers will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance to any and all for there inspiration.
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Post by Wyloch on Apr 24, 2017 16:54:55 GMT
Considering how fast it is to make them (Black Magic's, that is), what is the issue with just doing fixed walls? Storage?
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Post by busdriver on Apr 24, 2017 18:08:04 GMT
insert Wayne's World "We're not worthy" bit here. Love your vids, big fan. Fixed walls are still an option. I have considered walls like yours attached to the foam in the same manor you do your tiles, they would work fine. My thinking is with modular walls though I could reduce the need for so many different tiles, especially when it comes to interior walls this would also allow for different types of walls wood, stone etc.. I know this must seem a little OCD but it seems easy enough to have a modular floor and wall system that is versatile, yet not prone to moving around separately with the slightest bump.
It is an Honor.
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Post by Wyloch on Apr 24, 2017 18:17:40 GMT
Here's what I've been working on for an upcoming episode.
Toothpicks. Each wall will have two toothpicks (or short pieces of them) protruding from the bottom. They are measured to always be, let's say 0.5" inwards from the ends of the wall. This gets inserted down onto the main tile body.
The first time you do it, you will create two holes in the tile. And from that point onward, any wall you make will always work because you have adhered to whatever standard you initially set (again, perhaps 0.5" inwards).
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Post by busdriver on Apr 24, 2017 18:46:58 GMT
I was thinking the same thing. I actually had made one of each of your castle and dungeon tiles and was trying the same thing. I had planned to space them at the intersecting points and in the seems of the tile so not as visible, moving to the XPS foam instead of the cardboard base this should be even more practical. As for exterior walls I have considered using your technique with the chipboard but instead of gluing to the edge of the tile, I have considered flathead pins through the chipboard and into the foam, this way almost nothing sticking out once inserted. I have also considered using the toothpick or something like it to connect the tiles themselves together but might not be strong enough to really hold and certainly limiting because one side would need to have them sticking out all the time. I was considering the possibility of embedding a connector like that on a hot wheels track underneath each tile, thus connecting and disconnecting easily.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Apr 24, 2017 20:15:03 GMT
Another option for interior walls is to, essentially, use folded paper. A flat bottom with a single, reinforced piece going up between tiles would be relatively sturdy and work well for modularity mixed with things for a more tilescapes style end result.
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Post by stelmaria on Apr 24, 2017 20:43:02 GMT
I'm not sure how well this would work with the specific setup you're making, but if you're looking for simple and easily hidden ways of securing modular pieces, there's always magnets.
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Post by sunraven01 on Apr 25, 2017 0:51:34 GMT
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Post by busdriver on Apr 25, 2017 12:21:06 GMT
sotf, stelmaria, and sunraven01, thanks for the input. I have been wondering if it would be possible to inlay small magnets into the sides of my tiles making sure to alternate the polarities, and then just have them stick to one another. This would eliminate the need for a metal piece underneath, and also would allow extra hold of an insert for interior walls between tiles.Concerns in doing this are how to ensure the magnets will stay in the foam when connecting and disconnecting. rare earth mags are small but likely to strong, something along those lines just not so strong might be a possibility.
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Post by sunraven01 on Apr 25, 2017 12:56:35 GMT
You can do that, and it's a very elegant solution, and even in a way that you don't have to worry about polarity. The thing that's going to trip you up is getting the magnets glued into the foam, without melting the foam. I do this all the time with foam core, though. https://vine.co/v/MEQzP5lUBWt Those two foam core tiles have a magnet and a nail head embedded in the sides, so they "snap" together. I used these magnets: www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D21B-N52 and these nails: www.lowes.com/pd_336937-1278-1PBBLK_0__?productId=3295420&Ntt=panel+board+nails&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dpanel%2Bboard%2Bnails&facetInfo=The way you align them is to make sure you work consistently from piece to piece. With the "face" of the tile toward you (so in my case, the printed side): use the nail to poke a hole on the right edge of the tile, at the 1 inch mark, and then insert the nail 1 inch from the left edge of the tile. Glue the magnet into the hole you make, and repeat on all four sides, always gluing the magnet in the right side, and the nail on the left. Now, no matter which way you turn your tiles, your magnets are connecting to metal, so it doesn't matter about polarity.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Apr 25, 2017 22:11:52 GMT
You can do that, and it's a very elegant solution, and even in a way that you don't have to worry about polarity. The thing that's going to trip you up is getting the magnets glued into the foam, without melting the foam. I do this all the time with foam core, though. https://vine.co/v/MEQzP5lUBWt Those two foam core tiles have a magnet and a nail head embedded in the sides, so they "snap" together. I used these magnets: www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D21B-N52 and these nails: www.lowes.com/pd_336937-1278-1PBBLK_0__?productId=3295420&Ntt=panel+board+nails&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dpanel%2Bboard%2Bnails&facetInfo=The way you align them is to make sure you work consistently from piece to piece. With the "face" of the tile toward you (so in my case, the printed side): use the nail to poke a hole on the right edge of the tile, at the 1 inch mark, and then insert the nail 1 inch from the left edge of the tile. Glue the magnet into the hole you make, and repeat on all four sides, always gluing the magnet in the right side, and the nail on the left. Now, no matter which way you turn your tiles, your magnets are connecting to metal, so it doesn't matter about polarity. One major thing with magnets if you're using foam to consider is edge covers. The main reason for it is that it protects it from other incidents such as dropped tiles and general wear and tear from the "weak" points that the join points create. Namely it keeps the magnets or metal from ripping out and tends to leave it at a point where the "fail" point is at the connection rather than inside either of the tiles so that where it comes apart is where you want it to. Nothing is as big a pain in the rear as needing to repair tiles interiors...
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Post by skunkape on Apr 26, 2017 18:17:24 GMT
I've been part of big discussions over at WWG sunraven01, about nails and magnets. To me that's the easiest way to do it, as long as you do like you say, making sure the nail is always in the matching place for the magnet!
Good looking example you posted!
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Post by busdriver on May 1, 2017 17:33:46 GMT
Just an update. I haven't gotten to the magnets yet, but the idea is on my list of things to try. Spent the weekend making my own tabletop hot wire foam cutting table, talk about simplifying tile cutting, WOW! If you haven't given one these a try, and work with foam, you are missing out. fairly easy to make and not terribly expensive either. hope to maybe get a photo to post sometime this week.
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